The baseball term “hot stove” is affiliated with the time of year when those associated with America’s past time, whether it is players, managers, front office personnel or fans, discuss the summer game during the winter months. Even before the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1920, folks sat around the hot stove to debate and discuss the significance of their team’s transactions. Even though air conditioning and furnaces have replaced the iron stove as sources of heat, the term hot stove is still quite common in baseball vernacular. A place it is used frequently is to reference baseball banquets that take place during the off-season. The banquets are held to celebrate the game of baseball and to reward those in the game that contribute to its success.

The growth of the event has been truly amazing. In just seven short years the Greater Charlotte Hot Stove League Dinner has grown from 180 guests in 2008 to over 700 in 2015.

High School Baseball Player of the Year

High School Softball Player of the Year

2008

Richie Shaffer

2008

Constance Orr

2009

Tyler Tewell

2009

Kalie Lang

2010

Brian Holberton

2010

Jen Rosene

2011

Brett Austin

2011

Sarah Mooney

2012

Corey Seager

2012

Lexi Davis

2013

Alexander Bostic

2013

Madison Arroyo

2014

Brooks Kennedy / Ryder Ryan

2014

Mattie Nuccio

2015

Andrew Moritz / Xavier Legrant

2015

Leah Murray

2016

Jake Holtzapple

2016

Brittany Pickett

2017

Alec Burleson

2017

Courtney Dean

Youth Baseball Player of the Year

Youth Softball Player of the Year

2008

Chase Arnold

2008

Erin Kayton

2009

Nick Salisbury

2009

Elena Covert

2010

Daniel Calabretta

2010

Peyton Jordan

2011

Ryder Ryan

2011

Katie Williford

2012

Max Wottell

2012

Brooke McCurry

2013

Nick Bruno

2013

Carrie Eberle

2014

Jonah Beamon

2014

Julianna Roupas

2015

Jonah Beamon / Jonathan Perez

2015

Lindsay Perillo

2016

Ray Torres

2016

Gabby Baylog

2017

Bennett Wolf

2017

Ally Bigham

Scholar-Athlete of the Year

High School Team of the Year

2009

Steven Hummell

2009

Ardrey Kell High School

2010

Alex Baker & Grant Fisher

2010

Charlotte Christian School

2011

Justin Hammond

2011

Charlotte Catholic High School

2012

Colin Walls

2012

Marvin Ridge High School

2013

David Marvin

2013

Weddington High School

2014

Matt Ball

2014

South Mecklenburg High School

2015

Max Bazin

2015

Charlotte Christian School

2016

Logan Davidson

2016

Providence High School

2017

Owen Capps

2017

Marvin Ridge High School

Adam Faulk Tanksley Spirit Award

High School Pitcher of the Year

2010

Ben Boykin

2010

Ryan Butler

2011

Michael Russell

2011

Peter Hendel

2012

Ally Yeager

2012

Trent Thornton

2013

Jordan Goodman

2013

Bailey Ober

2014

Nick Owens

2014

Corey Sikes

2015

Coach Jon Tuscan

2015

Max Wotell

2016

Ryan Kirk / Alyssa Herlocker

2016

Henry Ryan / Jake Kuchmaner

2017

Gavin Canipe

2017

Jake Kuchmaner / Nicholas Swiney

York County Player of the Year

Youth Team of the Year

2009

Seth Neely

2010

Community House Middle School Baseball

2010

Brad Zebidis

2011

South Park Youth Assoc. All Stars

2012

Kyle Whitman

2012

MARA 12U & WCWAA 11U

2013

Tad Martin

2013

Lady Blues 16U Softball

2014

Josh Crump / Dalton Helms

2014

Weddington Middle School Baseball

2015

Clay Hunt

2015

Charlotte Country Day Middle School

2016

Cuthbertson Middle School JV Baseball

2017

South Charlotte Rec, 9U All Stars

Baseball “Gamer” Of The Year

Contributions to Youth Award

2012

Michael Patrick

2011

Zan Copeland

2013

Chris Clare / Kirk Morgan

2014

Landon Kay / Hunter Jones

High School Softball Pitcher of the Year

2015

Reece Hampton

2015

Keleigh Romine

2016

Justin Williams

2016

Carrie Eberle

2017

Satchel Jerzembeck

2017

Jaelin Griffin

Softball “Gamer” of the Year

Nations Baseball Umpire Award

2012

Emily Usiak

2011

David Bottonfield

2013

Kara Salvo

2014

Jordan Keene

Baseball Leadership Award

2015

Maddie Furr

2015

Jackson Dean

2016

Casey Bigham

2016

Luke Orr

2017

Kyrah Phelix

2017

Max Lahn

Crystal Carolina Sports Baseball Team of the Year

Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year

2011

Concord Diamond Dawgs

2011

Caitlin Kurtz

2012

Carolina Slammers (12U & up)

2012

Melanie Runkle

Mooresville Legends (11U and under)

2013

Kimberly Rivers

2013

Charlotte Megastars (12U and up)

2014

Katie Brock

SBA Canes Suarez (11U and under)

2015

Ashley McGowan

2014

SBA Canes 10U (11U and under)

2016

Emily Clinton

Cherryville Roadrunners (12U and up)

2017

Lindsey Powell

2015

SBA Canes Cruz 10U (11U and under)

Southern Express 12U (12U and up)

2016

Charlotte Athletics 11U (11U and under)

2016

Team Carolina 15U (12U and up)

Community Heroes Award

2017

Charlotte Astros 10U (11U and under)

2016

Tom Hay Coggins / Megan Campany

2017

Gaston Grizzlies 14U (12U and up)

2017

Mitchell Salvino

Nations Baseball Team of Excellence

High School Coach of the Year

2013

South Charlotte Thunder 9U

2013

Jimmy Cochran

2014

Coul-Oak Cannons 10U

2014

Travis Poole

2015

Team Carolina 14U

2016

Danny Hignight/Mark Mennitt

2016

HQ Clippers 15U Grey

2017

Jim Cerbie

2017

Team 24 Gamecocks 11U & 12U

Baseball Catcher of the Year Award

Baseball Rising Star Award

2016

Kevin Dobos

2016

Tate Pennington/Cam Brantley/Rohan Handa

2017

Drew Donathan

2017

Jeremiah Boyd/Jonah Beamon/J T Killen

Greater Charlotte Hot Stove League Award Criteria
The Greater Charlotte Hot Stove League Award finalists and winners are chosen by a selection committee of 11 members. Committee members represent each area of the Greater Charlotte community. Voters include; coaches, umpires, observers, media members and others that have a vast history and knowledge of both baseball and softball in the area.

The Greater Charlotte Hot Stove League places athletics, academics and character as very important components in the selection process. We strongly believe 100% in the Student-Athlete concept and the building of well-balanced student-athletes. Each finalist recognized tonight should be considered as a winner. They have risen to the top of their chosen sport and displayed the work ethic needed to become the very best they can possibly be. Many will go on to college and professional playing careers while others will become the leaders of tomorrow with outstanding academic resumes. With the leadership many have shown to date in the classroom and on the field, we have no doubt that these same student-athletes will help to make our community and world a better place.

Yes, one winner will be called on stage for each award, but it is very important to remember that all finalists are winners. We salute each and every finalist and their families for a job well done.